Greenpeace has launched a new campaign to tackle household plastic waste.
Working alongside non-profit organisation Everyday Plastic, 'The Big Plastic Count' campaign aims to encourage households to count how much plastic they throw away.
It also hopes to put pressure on the Government and retailers to fix the issue of plastic wastage.
The survey will take place from May 16 to 22 and encourages individuals, families, schools, community groups and businesses to record the different types of plastic they throw away using a website.
The Big Plastics Count signup has started - You can join to count plastics you throw away and in which bin from 16-22 May! Pressuring more action on plastic pollution on the UK government & learning where your plastics end up! https://t.co/Ht8vkHwqhK
— LetsTalkRubbish (@LetsRubbish) March 18, 2022
Greenpeace UK plastics campaigner Maja Darlington said: “The vast majority of us try to play our part in tackling the plague of plastic waste but without government policies that actually reduce packaging and improve recycling – rather than burning, burying or bundling it off to pollute other countries – we’ll continue to fight a losing battle.”
Each participant's data will contribute to a bigger picture of how much plastic packaging is being binned across the country.
A poll conducted by YouGov for Greenpeace found that four in five respondents want to see the Government tackling plastic waste with targets.
It also showed that 77 percent of people recycle plastic products but 75 percent do not know what happens to their waste.
Everyday Plastic founder and director Daniel Webb collected every piece of his plastic waste for a year and, with the help of a scientific researcher, developed a methodology to calculate his personal plastic footprint.
Mr Webb said: “Having counted my plastic waste for an entire year, I know exactly how powerful this investigation can be in helping to understand the true extent of the plastic problem.
“The Big Plastic Count is a simple yet impactful way to discover your household plastic footprint, whilst contributing vital evidence to push the Government for long overdue change.”
According to Greenpeace, the UK generated 5.2 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2018, enough to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.
The campaign is also supported by environmentalist and TV presenter Chris Packham, who said: “It’s ridiculous that we’re still swamped with plastic waste when it makes so many of us furious. The natural world can’t cope.
“We need to find out what’s really happening to plastic that’s supposedly recycled. I’ll be joining The Big Plastic Count and I’d urge you to do it too.”
How can I sign up for The Big Plastic Count?
Registration for the campaign is now open via the website here.
You will be sent a free pack with everything you need on recycled paper and plastic-free.
You will need to submit your results on the website throughout the week of May 16 to 22.
Once the results have been submitted, you will be given a personal plastic footprint and it will reveal where your plastic waste actually goes.
The national results will be published once they are analysed, alongside the next stops for pushing the government into action.
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